In 2007 I and a few others were called by Pastor Walter to come to a home in the rural area and pray. When we arrived we were met by the family of a young man named Sampson. We entered the house in silence and sat down. A brother went into the back room and practically carried Sampson out to the room where we sat. He was emaciated to say the least. A skeleton of a young man on the very threshold of death.
We prayed fervent prayers over him for some time, then left. In my mind I can remember thinking this was one more victim of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. After a few days I heard he was brought to the church and after the service practically crawled down the isle for prayer – his last hope.
With all the death and suffering here in Swaziland I honestly didn’t give Sampson much more thought. The image of his ravaged body would come up now and then but it was joined by many other horrific images and memories of the past several years.
Fast forward to this trip, October 2010. I was out at a care point when Pastor Walter pulled up in his truck with several passengers – all students at the local bible college. As I walked over to Walter to greet him he pointed out one of the men and asked if I recognized him. I said I could see his face but I did not know who he was. When Walter told me it was Sampson I could not believe it. Not only has be been healed he is a student at the bible college studying to be a pastor.
I don’t know if you can relate to this, but many times in my life I have struggled with the concept of the power of prayer. Some of the things I have prayed for with the most sincerity and faith have not turned out the way I asked. Other things I pray for and forget I find become answered prayers almost without my notice. I sometimes come to the conclusion that prayer is a lot more about changing me than changing the actions of an almighty God. This sort of fatalism has dampened my faith and caused me to ask for a lot less and just focus on getting grace to accept things the way they are. Seeing Sampson walking in health and in a strong relationship with the Lord helps my faith.
Prayer is still a mystery to me. I do believe that God answered this prayer. Somehow through prayers by myself and many others in Sampson’s church for his healing he has been powerfully saved from the edge of the grave. As a result, he is committing his life to serve God the best he knows how.
I’ll keep praying for things I don’t understand and in the midst of that ask the Lord for the faith to trust Him however He answers.
Am I alone in this struggle with prayer? What are you praying for today?
Thank you Jesus!
Thanks for sharing and having the faith to pray.
Love this. It only encourages me more to keep crawling in faith for the day that my ears will be opened! Jesus is the eternal victory!
I have been praying that God would use circumstances in Swaziland to encourage and stregthen your faith in Him. Have my prayers been answered little brother??? We serve an amazing God!
Thanks for posting Scot. It’s something I’ve also struggled with. Pray is indeed a mystery. I don’t always understand it and why God answers this pray and not that one. But He commands us to pray even if we don’t understand. I’m realizing more and more that it’s not what I want but God’s will be done for His glory. Thanks again!
Am I alone in this struggle with prayer? What are you praying for today?
No, you are not alone. I have watched God heal me and protect me so much, as Jan is sitting there waiting for her healing. I struggle with how she feels. I am so praying for her miracle. Miss you man.
great story, Scott! let’s hear it for God’s power at work in Sampson’s body!
Scott, your post that was fowarded to me by Julie E. from church today couldn’t have come at a better time. We have been having alot of problems trying to get Breakaway going this year and I have been worried and discouraged knowing full well I need to trust that God will work it out,but yet not understanding why we have to go through all the roadblocks, etc. I have been praying~~~ Still I know it is Satan trying to shut down this event cause God does bless it every year. Just in the last 2 days we have had many answers to prayer and things are working out. but your post really encouraged me. I fowarded it to many to keep praying and to encourage them too. Keep looking up!!
What an amazing, ever-present God we have! He is always wanting to show His glory to those who will surrender to Him! Thank you for that testimony! When we were at Timbutini care point in 2009, there was a very sick boy named Thabani. We didn’t think he would be there when we came back in 2010. Not only was he there, but he was the most loving, energetic boy at the care point! He was an amazing testimony to the Lord’s hand on the children of Swaziland! Thank you again for sharing that encouraging story!
I just returned from Swaziland yesterday and too met Sampson. He was attending a Pastor’s Conference we were holding at the Bible School he attends. I didn’t know his back-story. Thanks.
AWESOME!!! Thanks for this post Scott…
Thanks for sharing this awesome story! This hits me right where I’m at emotionally and spiritually…God is wanting to show me the power in praying and asking for what we need from Him! Sometimes, here in Nsoko, prayer is all we have to give and I am working on strengthening my faith to say “it is always enough”!!